Asylum

ASYLUM – BACKGROUND

Asylum is often used as a remedy for someone who is either already in the United States or at the border. If the United States government decides that your life or freedom would be threatened in your country because of your race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, the government may allow you to remain here.

ASYLUM – PROCEDURE

To be eligible for asylum you must have a fear of persecution or have suffered persecution in your country in the past. You must be unwilling or unable to return to your country because of this fear. The way you apply for asylum depends on whether you are filing affirmatively (without being in removal proceedings) or defensively (currently in removal proceedings). Regardless of which process you are in, you will need to file Form I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal. You only have one-year to file this application from the day you entered the United States.

If you or a loved one were arrested or detained attempting to cross into the United States or were arrested and now in an immigration detention center, you will have to undergo a Credible Fear Interview with an asylum officer before you will be eligible to receive an immigration bond or apply for asylum. Preparation for this interview is extremely important – if you fail the interview, you will likely be deported unless you successfully appeal the asylum officer’s decision in front of an immigration judge. Often times a detainee is not able to present a credible fear to the asylum officer because they have not been adequately prepared by a competent and experienced immigration attorney. Our law office has the experience required to assist you through this process.

ASYLUM – ELIGIBILITY

In order to qualify for asylum you must not:

Be a danger to the United States;

Have been convicted of certain crimes;

Have been a member of or helped a terrorist group;

Have lived in another safe country for a significant period of time before arriving in the United States (there are exceptions to this bar);

Have committed a serious non-political crime outside of the United States;

Have not helped, ordered, or participated in the persecution of another person because of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion; and

Are not applying for asylum more than a year after entering the United States.

ASYLUM – BENEFITS

If you win your asylum case you are entitled to numerous benefits including but not limited to:

The right to live and work in the United States without needing an employment authorization card;

Can apply for a lawful permanent resident card after one year;

Eligibility for need-based government assistance such as welfare, Medicaid and food stamps, and Supplemental Security Income if you are disabled;

Social Security card;

Asylum status for spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21.

WHAT THE LAW OFFICE OF ARMAND JAWANMARDI CAN DO FOR YOU

Our law firm will sit down with you and take the time to understand your life and the circumstances which brought you to the United States. We understand that no two cases are alike and that your voice must be heard. If you are applying for asylum there are often incredibly heartbreaking and sad experiences that you have had to suffer through. Our law firm will meet with you numerous times over the course of months to carefully craft your experiences and testimony in a way that will give you the best possible chance of winning your asylum case.

Our experience in winning and helping to win asylum cases in the past makes our firm completely able to assist you in your case. We have handled asylum cases for applicants that have lived all over the world including but not limited to: Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia, and India.

You need and deserve a law firm and an attorney who will stand by your side through the asylum process and defend your right to be in the United States with undying passion. We want to have the honor of representing you. Please contact The Law Office of Armand Jawanmardi for a consultation on what you can expect when applying for asylum and what we can do for you at 713-999-9115. We are always available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer your questions.